He woke up to find her busy in the kitchen.
He hugged her from behind, kissing her on cheek. She was ageing fast. He noticed fine lines appearing on her flawlessly fair skin.
"What's up, Neha?" He whispered, his lips close to her left ear.
"Baking a cake for Amar. Don't you remember? Our son has turned nine today. You are so occupied with your work that you even forgot your own son's birthday!"
He looked deep into her eyes. The eyes which he had fallen for. The eyes which made her look too impeccant to be a mother of a nine year old.
"Of course I remember. How would I forget the birthday of my only son? I've got a nice surprise for him. A brand new PlayStation. I've even invited all his friends for the evening party. I just have to rush to the office and finish my work so that I can make it to the party before time."
He hurried to the bathroom.
She stood before mirror, tying her hair in a bun. She pinned a fresh red rose, that she had collected from their garden, in her neatly combed hair. 'Amar loves roses. I should get some for him' She thought. She got nice a bunch of red roses from the garden...
" Mom, I want you to be the first to wish me. Not just this year but every year. No one should wish me before you..not even dad"
Amar had once said, putting his little hands around her shoulders. She had laughed it off then, but now she really wanted to be the first to wish him. She loved it when he smiled flashing his little dimples every year when she sang a birthday song for him. She caressed the bunch of roses and headed to wish her son.
Adjusting the garland on the framed photograph of smiling Amar, she said,
" Happy Birthday, son. May you live forever...."
© Aditee Joshi
